Foster Parenting E-Magazine, November 2009
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Foster Parenting Announcements
The New Adoption Month E-Magazine is Here!
If you're a regular subscriber to the AdoptionWeek.com Weekly E-Magazine, then you may be noticing some changes. One of the big changes is the name but in addition to the name change, we've made other great improvements that will help get you to the most up-to-date information available on our website for topics that interest you.
Each month, starting with this issue, you'll get a very abbreviated copy of the newly named Adoption Month E-Magazine in your inbox. This is a notification to let you know that we've published the most recent issue of the E-Magazine on our website for you to view. From that notification, you can click on the tab at the top of the page that best fits your interest and you'll be taken to the customized E-Magazine designed specifically for that topic.
Don't worry! The Adoption Month E-Magazine will have all of the same types of things the previous E-Magazine had, plus great new sections designed with you in mind. Please take a few minutes to check out the Adoption Month E-Magazine, then scroll to the bottom and send us your feedback!
We hope that you enjoy the new Adoption Month E-Magazine as much as we've enjoyed creating it for you.
National Adoption Awareness Month
Each year, November is recognized as National Adoption Awareness Month. While all adoption-related issues are important, the particular focus of this month is the adoption of children currently in foster care. Learn more about the ways you can celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month, visit the 30 Days of Ideas for National Adoption Awareness Month Calendar.
Is Foster Parenting Right For You?
Foster Parenting takes a specific type of person; it isn’t ideal for everyone. It can be hard and challenging, but also rewarding and fun. If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, here are some of the qualities and necessities you’ll need in order to succeed, enjoy the experience, and be a great foster parent for the child.
Personal Qualities: Because being a foster parent can be taxing and stressful, there are some attributes that work best in the foster care environment. Some necessary attributes include patience, flexibility, open-mindedness, understanding, and forgiving. Flexibility with your schedule is important because things will come up suddenly and change—including court dates, meeting with social workers, and so on; it is inevitable. Also, being forgiving is essential for both you and the child. Sometimes foster children have emotional setbacks and they may act out. This is fairly common. Being able to look past their behavior and forgive them is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship and balance in your home.
Adequate Space: As a foster parent, you need to appropriately accommodate all foster children in your home. State laws vary regarding space requirements for each child. Not only is it a requirement to have adequate space, it can help keep the peace at home because your house won’t feel overcrowded and cramped. As personal space is important to you, it is also important to your foster children. Make sure they have the space they need.
Meet State Requirements: Each state has their own set of foster parenting requirements. Before you begin the process, make sure you check with your local government, and that you completely understand each requirement and expectation on your part. This way, you won’t have missed an important step and have to start the process anew later—requiring additional time and energy.
Adequate Income: You want to make sure that you won’t be struggling financially when you decide to become a foster parent. Keep in mind that some states will pay you monthly for caring for a foster child, but this shouldn’t be your sole source of income. You should be able to comfortably provide for all members of your household.
Proper Motivation: As mentioned in the previous section, some states will provide compensation for caring for a foster child. This should not be your motivation. To be a good foster parent, you need to have the desire to help children and to provide a loving, stable environment for them to live.
The Adoption Photolisting
Parent Profiles
Hoping to Adopt? Create Your Profile Today and get 30 Days FREE!
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Sign up with Parent Profiles to create your adoption profile today and start connecting with expectant and placing parents. Your profile will be featured on many of the best known adoption websites. Mention you saw this ad or when completing your paperwork use code PPCN and we will give you 30 days free*.
*Contact ParentProfiles.com for details.
How can ParentProfiles.com help you?
ParentProfiles.com is there to assist you as you navigate through your adoption journey.
ParentProfiles.com is an internet listing site dedicated to helping couples and birth parents with informative information about their options. We empower each side of the adoption triad with the ability to be actively involved in the process of choosing the best opportunity for everyone. We offer information for birth parents, listing services for couples who are hoping to adopt, and give agencies an avenue for their couples and birth parents to connect.
Our profiles are informative and engaging. We offer options such as video, an audio recording, options for additional exposure, and more. The profiles can be viewed 24/7 removing boundaries such as time, state, or agency availability.
Please feel free to visit our website to see how we can help you in your journey.
The information and links displayed above relate to profile posting services provided on the ParentProfiles.com web site, which is a service of Adoption Profiles, L.L.C., who sponsors this section and is solely responsible for its content.
Foster Parenting Blogs from AdoptionBlogs.com
Welcoming Your Foster Child with Open Arms
When meeting your foster child for the first time, it can be nerve-wracking for both of you. But with just a little preparation, you can ease the tension and make him or her feel comfortable in his or her new home. Here are some helpful tips to make sure you and your home are ready for your new addition. [more]
Racism and Health Care
I've been following the health care reform bills, though I can't say I'm keeping track of the minute-to-minute changes. Personally, I support a strong public option that ensures that all Americans have access to good health care. What does this have to do with transracial adoption? [more]
Hygiene and The Older Child
When adopting an older child or older children you must prepare for kids who may or may not have had the same hygiene training as we are used to. I have touched on this before in the following posts... [more]
More Search & Reunion Blogs: Foster Adoption Blog | Foster Care Blog | Older Child Adoption Blog | Special Needs Adoption Blog | Attachment Disorder Blog
Foster Parenting Community, News & Events
Foster Parent Support - Do I Report This? Foster Son Leaves Tomorrow
Texas Foster Adoption - Superior Health - Swine Flu Vaccination
Foster Parent Support - Relative Placement: Have You Ever Supervised Visits?
Oregon Live - State Gives Most Foster Parents A Raise
The Daily Press - D.C. Foster-Child Project Recasts Concept of Family
Foster Parenting
Foster Children November 14, 2009 Celebrate National Adoption Month
November 14, 2009 Adoption Education Webinar
November 20, 2009 Celebration of Life, with Dr. Richard Land
November 21, 2009 National Adoption Day - Contact your local Family Court for information on events in your area
Foster Parenting Tip of the Month
When foster parenting it is very important that you become familiar with the laws and rules that you must follow when providing care for a child in the custody of the state. In addition to state laws, which are unique for each state, there can be other rules and guidelines which can vary depending on the type of care you provide, the type of licensing agency you use and even the county where you provide care. When in doubt, always ask! It's better to ask questions and be certain you're following the rules than it is to have to face a long and difficult investigation into the issues that could result from not staying up-to-date on the rules and guidelines. Staying informed about the rules that your licensing agency has is an important part of remaining licensed as a foster care provider in your area.In Your Words
In Your Words is the newest section of the e-magazine for many of you. Those of you who read the weekly version are accustomed to seeing the "Speak Out" section of each issue, but for those of you touched in other ways, the "In Your Words" section is a brand new addition. This section is your place to speak your mind and talk about matters that are important to you. Do you have a question that you'd like to pose to others with similar adoption interest? Do you have feedback for us? The In Your Words section is just the place to do that.
Since this is our first issue, we didn't have anything to share in this issue, but we look forward to hearing from you for our next issue.
Share Your Thoughts with Us
Have something to share in the next issue of the emag? Please use the form below to tell us about your thoughts, comments, experiences, feedback, etc. Your submission may appear in an upcoming issue of the emag.
